Huskies 60, Spartans 54: Michigan State loses grip against UConn in regional final

NEW YORK -- Connecticut's Shabazz Napier spotted up to loft a 3-point attempt with 30.6 seconds left on the clock.

The shot was silent, but the sound of a referee's whistle hung thick in the air.

Keith Appling's career at Michigan State was over with the graze of a forearm. And after Appling's foul, Napier's three free throws made it 56-51, UConn.

Ballgame.

The No. 7 seed Huskies upset No. 4 seed Michigan State 60-54 in the East Regional final to advance to the Final Four in North Texas on April 5.

The loss means Michigan State's streak of sending every four-year player under Tom Izzo to a Final Four has officially ended.

Connecticut built its second 10-point lead of the night, 49-39, when Ryan Boatright hit a 3-pointer with 6:27 remaining on the clock and Michigan State's Gary Harris draped all over him.

Michigan State's Denzel Valentine and Harris then hit consecutive 3-pointers to bring the Spartans within four points, cutting UConn's lead to 49-45 with just under 5 minutes to play.

Two free throws by Branden Dawson -- who finished with just five points -- cut the Huskies' lead to 51-47 with 3:37 on the clock. Appling then scored his first points of the night to make it a two-point game, 51-49.

Michigan State would never get any closer.

Harris led Michigan State with 22 points on 8-of-14 shooting. Adreian Payne had 13 points and nine rebounds. But they couldn't overcome Napier -- who finished with 25 points -- and the Huskies.

Michigan State had surged out of the locker room in the second half and held a nine-point lead, 32-23 with 16:33 to play. The Huskies snatched it back with a three-point play by DeAndre Daniels that made it 35-32 with 11:47 left.

Things looked grim for Michigan State early when missed field goals and several turnovers led to a quick 12-2 lead for UConn. The Spartans had eight turnovers in the first half and finished with 16.

Michigan State bounced back to take a halftime lead, but could not hold off UConn in the second half.

HIGHLIGHTS

-- Michigan State was down 12-2 after the first five minutes but outscored Connecticut 23-9 over the next 15 minutes, including a 9-0 run in the final 5:27 to take a 25-21 halftime lead.

-- The Spartans came out of the locker room clicking. With 16:59 on the clock, Gary Harris drove and kicked it behind his back to Adreian Payne for an open 3 to make it 30-23 Michigan State.

-- Denzel Valentine found Gary Harris on the perimeter with a cross-court pass in transition to give the Spartans their first lead 22-21 with 3:27 left in the first half.

LOWLIGHTS

-- Michigan State had eight turnovers in the first half, leading to one-third of UConn's first-half points.

-- Down 35-32 with 10:55 left on the clock, Travis Trice inexplicably lost control of the ball under zero pressure and fell on it out of bounds. It was Michigan State's 13th turnover of the night.

-- Keith Appling picked up his fourth personal foul with just under 10 minutes to play and the Spartans trailing 35-34. He had yet to score a point.

WHAT TO WATCH FOR REVISITED

We said Michigan State sophomore Gary Harris was due for a big game and would benefit from the extra defensive attention paid to Adreian Payne and Branden Dawson. Harris showed up, scoring 12 points in the first half and finishing with team-high 22.